 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
LEGO: The Adventures of Clutch Powers
- Review Date: February 16, 2010
- NR
- Genre: Family and Kids
- 2010
Common Sense Media says
Clever, witty adventure -- but also one big LEGO ad.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that, like the popular LEGO video games, this DVD is both enjoyable and literally built on everything LEGO, from the punctuated ground on up to the snap-on characters' hair. Many of the scenes begin with a character encountering a pile of LEGOs that they have to craft into a working spaceship or vehicle. Of course, all of these items are for sale in stores. Though the underlying message of the importance of teamwork is good for all ages, there is some fighting with weapons and scares for younger viewers, like an army of skeleton characters and a rock monster.
What's the story?
Clutch Powers (voiced by Ryan McPartlin) is just your above-average LEGO hero. Everyone in the LEGO universe knows his reputation as a master LEGO builder and adventurer. When his boss, Kjell Playwell (Paul Michael Glaser) teams him up with a German engineer named Bernie, an adventure specialist named Peg, and a general rough guy named Brick, Clutch's loner streak comes to an abrupt halt. The team is sent to a Space Police prison planet where a distress signal has been picked up. They are led to the medieval world of Ashlar, where Mallock the Malign -- a wizard who is bent on destroying all forces for good -- resides. The team is quickly charged with finding the resident prince, who alone can defeat the wizard. But "team" is a concept that alludes these four specialists, and their in-fighting just might distract them from getting the job done.
Is it any good?
This charming adventure DVD will certainly be a hit with LEGO fans. It has humor, a good story-line, defined characters, and a very uniquely LEGO world-view. Of course, it's also a product send-up; Each scene features cool new LEGO buildings and vehicles. But considering that the product send-up is a genre of its own these days (hello, Transformers?) the LEGO franchise does it with aplomb.
Talking with kids about watching versus buying might temper some of the consumer frenzy that this movie will inspire. But for what it's worth, the movie contains the creative spark that LEGO fans deserve. It's built on the fact that building is what the LEGO empire is all about. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about clever consumer branding. Here is a movie based on a product (like the long-running Barbie DVD series). Does this DVD make you want to play with or buy LEGOs?
Kids can also talk about teamwork. How did it save the day? When can going it alone be a good thing? When can it be bad?
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AGE
Good for young kids, around 7+
This is a fun movie for kids--with the exception of the Lord-of-the-Rings style battle scene at the end. This is a spectacular advance of the classic stop-motion battle scenes that have been previously filmed to us Lego maniacs, but to the younger kids it may be frightening: skeletons emerge from the glowing ground and attack the knights with scythes and swords. Skeletons are dismembered, beheaded, and crushed. An alive piece of armor is sliced in half from the head down, and some people are thrown around and zapped and burned. But overall it is family friendly; the sexual content is so mild that is almost not there: there is some extremely mild jokes and one kiss. The product placement is there of course, but this is a LEGO movie, it is to be expected that everything is made of Legos! There is no direct advertising. So it's suitable for around 7+
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AGE
This was a great movie for the family as a whole...but then our entire family LOVES Lego toys. Sure there is excessive product placement and it could be considered a giant Lego ad...but it is about LEGO and centered around the Lego product, so what would you expect...clever Nike placement instead...PLEASE! If your kids (or mom / dad) love Lego toys this is the movie for you...lots of familiar characters and fun. :)
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AGE
My two sons LOVE this movie.
My two sons (4 and 5) LOVE this movie. We had rented it from the movie store and they watched it every chance they got before it had to be returned. The next weekend they asked for it again and we ended up buying it. They go around reciting scenes. It's a cute movie.
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AGE
Great family movie all around.
I thought the film was really, really well done. It is clear to me that the filmmakers really tried to instill a sense of fun and adventure as well as an overall sense of what makes LEGO great to play with - and then they tied it into a really nice message that also fits the theme of the movie. I would highly recommend as it is entertaining and the animation looks fantastic.
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AGE
Rockin' Movie
The main concept is work together to get stuff done. Lots of weapons being weilded. The one lady kisses the one Lego. Lots of Lego products.
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Kid, 10 years old
September 10, 2011
AGE
Hey Look!
Really good rubbish
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AGE
A smart, fun-filled thrill-ride
From its thrilling opening sequence (borrowing from Raiders of the Lost Ark and Aliens) to its over-the-top climax, LEGO: The Adventures of Clutch Powers delivers pure fun and entertainment. It’s amazingly well done, and not just for a direct-to-video movie about a toy line; it easily could have been a theatrical hit. The LEGO logo placement is a bit blatant at times (as if we don’t know what we’re watching), but never mind. LEGO: The Adventures of Clutch Powers is a highly entertaining cross-section of action, sci-fi, and medieval epic, with some positive messages woven in about loyalty and teamwork. I can’t recommend it enough as the next film you should check out for a family movie night. Read my full review at filmfather (dot) blogspot (dot) com
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| Studio: | Universal Studios Home Entertainment |
| Director: | Howard E. Baker |
| Cast: | Roger Rose, Ryan McPartlin, Yvonne Strahovski |
| Genre: | Family and Kids |
| Run time: | 82 minutes |
| DVD release date: | February 23, 2010 |
| MPAA rating: | NR |
| MPAA explanation: | Not Rate |
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